[theflatlander]

In my last post I was asking what you used for your sleeping system (pad, pillow, bag, or wool blanket). I have put some thought into what would be a great system for all times of the year and not just the spring through fall.

I'm really leaning toward the authentic usgi sleep system with some type of a sleeping pad that i have decided on.

Would anyone disagree against the usgi system for a 4 season system? if so what would you suggest?


Im really intrested in a light weight system for the spring through fall also . I was thinking a bivy and a wool blanket. I have really thought about a lean to with a military poncho and a hammock but i dont like the idea of bugs being able to eat me while trying to sleep or snakes curling up with me while sleeping.

Im thinking the bivy and wool blanket would be the best for this but does anyone else have a suggestion for this?

thanks for the help.

 

[Silverlion]

I use different bags for different times of the year. That's the beauty of the USGI sleep system. And when you just take 1 part of it, say for warmer weather, it's not that heavy. I like mine. If you're in to hammocks, look in to jungle hammocks. They have mosquito netting. Also if you have a plain hammock, you can install a ridgeline and buy a separate net for it. PM me if you have any Q's about hammocks. No, I don't sell them, I just know a lot about them.

 

[realmcgyver]

If you have the means this is the way to go. Wiggy's

 

[twyggy]

The USGI system will certainly keep you toasty warm in any American temperatures. It's pretty heavy, but I like it. I dedicate about 15lbs of my weight to shelter, anyways, and with the USGI system, it's really all the shelter you need.

That being said, if you know and have time for a little bushcraft, you can snuggle up significantly closer to the fire with a wool blanket and it will keep you just as warm. I ditched the USGI because a wool blanket is more durable, insulates while wet, and I can get REALLY close to the fire with it (all qualities I need), but that doesn't make the USGI a horrible sleep system. Sure, it was designed, built, and manufactured by the lowest bidder, but it still had to meet operational requirements! :thumb: The USGI is also great in that it is modular, so you can mix and match for the seasons, which sounds like it would work well for you.

As far as a sleeping mat goes, I'm looking into buying more Thermarest products after playing with this Thermarest prolite 3 I found lying around. Foam pads insulate well (I think even better than the thermarest), but they're large to pack around, and, worst of all, they create pressure points (for me, I'm 300 lbs) - something you want to avoid while sleeping on the ground. My thermarest packs smaller (but slightly heavier), has enough insulation, and, most importantly, sleeps without pressure points!

If you don't value insulating while wet, durability, and fire resistance, then ditch the wool blanket and just use pieces of the modular sleeping system. Wool blankets are just too heavy and bulky if you're not looking for those qualities in a sleep system. :thumb:

 

[Slim69]

If you have the means this is the way to go. Wiggy's

That's a lot of money for the bag. $420 for a -60 bag. Wow.

My last bag was rated to -30 and it got me through a many a winter in WI and a 3 month winter trip to Alaska.

victor23 has USGI systems for $149 new with tags. I just bought 3 from him a couple weeks ago.

I agree with Silverlion that it is a great universal bag and you can add or remove pieces as needed for climate.

 

[Decidion]

Yeah I think the USGI MSS system is the way to go economically....IF you are about 6'2" or under. Taller folks like me can't fit into them comfortably. They do make an XL version that is for tall people, but the military only purchased them as individual pieces (not a four piece set) and trying to find all the separate pieces is nearly impossible....you gotta have a boatload of good luck/karma!

If you are 6'2" or under, I suggest contacting Victor23 as well (I know him from another forum as well)...he seems like a really nice guy, although I have not actually done business with him.

 

[scipio337]

I'm a big fan of the USGI system. I'm not sure how "getting close to the fire with a wool blanket" will keep you DRY.

It is a little heavy, and expensive. To me, the best part of the USGI system is the bivy. All goretex, sealed seams, etc. I have friends who bought the bivy by itself, and just a "GI Style" modular system on the sportsman's guide. Needless to say, they paid a little bit less than I did, and I have the newer, 5 piece set in ACU. The smaller stuff sack is really a must.

 

[Irish Militant]

I just purchased on a couple of weeks ago and it is perfect!!

Best price I could find with free shipping, in the listing it states they are used but its not true.
http://www.unclesamsretailoutlet.com/Tennier_Industries_Modular_Sleep_System_-4_Pc_Sys.html

 

[twyggy]

I'm a big fan of the USGI system. I'm not sure how "getting close to the fire with a wool blanket" will keep you DRY.

Heat hastens the evaporation process. :thumb:

http://techalive.mtu.edu/meec/module01/EvaporationandTranspiration.htm

 

[JeepinCalifornia]

Heat hastens the evaporation process. :thumb:

http://techalive.mtu.edu/meec/module01/EvaporationandTranspiration.htm

Assuming it's not [still] raining on you. :thumb:

http://techalive.mtu.edu/meec/module01/Precipitation.htm

 

[stigz]

Even if you decide the whole USGI sleep system is too big/heavy for your needs, you should still consider the bivy cover by itself. It is a great lightweight gortex bivy. You can stuff whatever blanket or sleeping-bag you want inside it.

 

[twyggy]

Assuming it's not [still] raining on you. :thumb:

http://techalive.mtu.edu/meec/module01/Precipitation.htm

Haha, of course! That's what a bivouac is for! I'm sure you wouldn't be setting up a fire in the rain! :thumb:

 

[theflatlander]

thanks for all the info guys. im going to be contacting victor23 for a bag. were is the best place to look for a jungle hammock on the net?

 

[sachson]

Flatlander, youre in the Bighorn Mnts, looking for a bedroll system... Poncho/liner combo is great for summer. Wool blanket? Why go civil war tech?? Poncho liner is warm, light, compact, dries fast, warm when wet, etc. Better choice? GI sleep system- cold weather black bag, great for spring/fall. Green patrol bag, great for summer- down to poncho liner temps 'n below. Combined, arctic temps! Goretex bivy? Water resistant and wind proof. A tarp or ponch 'tent' and sleeping pad, preferably closed cell. The GI foam pads, awesome- bit bulky, but light. And they float- with a pad and a waterproofed pack, you can swim across lakes..... And stay warm! For a couple hundred bucks...

 

[benajah]

I like the USGI system and used it for years in the army, but now I use nearly the same thing, only civilian materials...a Marmot down sleeping bag, Thermarest mattress, and an Outdoor Research Advanced bivy. The bivy is a little more roomy than the army issue one as it has hoops over the head, and significantly lighter.
The thing is, military issue gear is almost always going to be more durable, but the trade off is weight.
I am not the lithe svelte paratrooper I once was. Years of injuries, many permanant, makes me keep my gear just as light as possible. I try to keep down to 30 lbs for a weeks worth of gear in the summer, 40 in the winter.

 

[FarmerJohn]

The bivy bag its got is pure gold will keep you dry even when your sleeping in 5 inches of water long as you rotate your zipper up

and overall I would say the system is very good you can also later if you want get a divv bag and use the bivy to keep things dry

 

[sniperfx]

thanks for all the info guys. im going to be contacting victor23 for a bag. were is the best place to look for a jungle hammock on the net?

go to hennesy hammocks... that is where i got mine.. they have all season hammocks.. i love them. i will never sleep on the ground again..

 

[sniperfx]

take a look at a recon 5 bag, they are on the net...

 

[DutchGuy]

In my last post I was asking what you used for your sleeping system (pad, pillow, bag, or wool blanket). I have put some thought into what would be a great system for all times of the year and not just the spring through fall.

I'm really leaning toward the authentic usgi sleep system with some type of a sleeping pad that i have decided on.

Would anyone disagree against the usgi system for a 4 season system? if so what would you suggest?


Im really intrested in a light weight system for the spring through fall also . I was thinking a bivy and a wool blanket. I have really thought about a lean to with a military poncho and a hammock but i dont like the idea of bugs being able to eat me while trying to sleep or snakes curling up with me while sleeping.

Im thinking the bivy and wool blanket would be the best for this but does anyone else have a suggestion for this?

thanks for the help.

I have the Goretex cover only. Consider using the cover with a civvie sleeping bag (winter or summer, depending on season). This way you'll save a lot of weight.

Don't get me wrong, the complete system is very good bang for the buck but it is rather heavy, using a civvie bag will often save weight while producing the same results.

 

[kain9662002]

Well first off I'm biased towards the USGI Mod Sleep System, while stationed at Ft. Carson we had to sleep out in the field with no tent, no biggie except it started to sleet (we all know that blows) but racked out as I was i didnt know the bivy cover kept it all out and the heavy liner kept me warm and I used the lightweight for a pillow all zipped up I didnt know it had goten that bad until i woke up sat up and ice fell off me. lowest bidder or not it works, and as stated in previous posts you can tailor it to what you need. Another good thing is the synthetic material its made of seems to resist mildew if damp, and it still drys quick. The wool is ok as well, but a big part of warm is being insulated against the ground, that being said the army's sleeping pads are crap. Look around and get a nice civilian one.